33 rebels killed in Lanka clashes

At least 33 Tamil Tigers were killed in fierce ground clashes with security forces in Sri Lanka's embattled north as the Air Force jets pounded three LTTE camps in the rebel stronghold of Mannar, officials said on Wednesday.

''Air Force fighter jets pounded three LTTE camps, located in the north and east of Madhu area in Mannar this morning,'' the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.

In ground clashes, at least one rebel was killed in Thirukkunishwaran area of Mannar on Tuesday, the army said, adding another guerrilla was gunned down in Muhamalai in Jaffna peninsula.

Separately, troops killed three LTTE cadres in Karampakulam in Vavuniya yesterday, the MCNS said.

In another confrontation, at least four rebels were shot dead by security forces at Janakpura in northeast Welioya on Tuesday, it said.

At least five LTTE cadres were killed in Umayaratuwarankulam in Vavuniya yesterday in clashes with security forces, the Defence Ministry said.

In a fierce encounter, troops gunned down nine rebels at Periyawalayanwaddukulam in Vavuniya on Tuesday.

Another five rebels were shot dead by troops in Kontakkarankulam in Vavuniya on Tuesday, the MCNS said, adding five more LTTE cadres were gunned down in Maruthamadu in the same region.

Source: NDTV